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Ex-police commander wins apology and compensation

Statement in open court read in claim over false Rachel Nickell allegations

The publisher of the Mirror group of newspapers has apologised and paid compensation to former police commander Roy Ramm over false allegations published about him on its website.

On 8 March 2018 the Mirror website published an article about a documentary concerning the investigation of the murder of Rachel Nickell in 1992. The investigation was notoriously flawed, in particular for its use of an undercover officer to draw a confession out of an innocent man, Colin Stagg. The Mirror website article wrongly referred to Mr Ramm as “disgraced” and depicted him as having played a central role in, and responsibility for, the police operation.

The Mirror accepted that these allegations were false and made an offer of amends. It published an apology on its website, wrote letters of apology and agreed to join in the reading of a statement in open court, heard before Mr Justice Warby on 1 May 2019. It also agreed to pay Mr Ramm a substantial amount in compensation as well as his legal costs.